Self-sufficiency farm

Self-sufficiency farm, Authors: Miha Lipovec, Silva Požlep ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Conceptual design

Project: Self-sufficiency farm

Authors and developers of conceptual design:

Miha Lipovec

Silva Pozlep


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Dear friends,

We turn to you with a cooperation proposal. We believe that you or some of your friends, relatives or acquaintances might be interested in our idea. We are proposing cooperation in a special ecological and innovative form, in the form of a self-sufficiency farm and a lot more – European Development Movement, symbiotic way of life between human and nature, preservation of natural heritage, and development of potentials.

In the attachment we are sending you the basic concept of the self-sufficiency farm which we would like to set up in order to provide well-being for all of us now and in the future and we believe that it concerns everyone. We would like to invite you to contribute to our project to the best of your abilities as a co-worker, co-creator, donor, investor, sponsor, business angel…All kinds of support, including the good wishes and positive thoughts, are more than welcome.

For quite some time we have been investing quite a lot of time and money into self-improvement, education, test projects, such as various types of plant breeding (farming, biological dynamic farming, permaculture, self-sufficiency farming, beekeeping, herb growing and processing, use of plants in nutrition and healing, education, etc.), and we have already got very interesting results. We are looking for a large estate and we are trying to connect with people who have already achieved a lot in this field, at home, as well as abroad (including the well-known and famous people).

If you find this project interesting, please contact us (e-mail: [email protected]; phone number: +386 41 433 737). We are going to arrange a meeting to get to know each other and discuss our further cooperation. If you think that your friends or acquaintances might find this conceptual design interesting or that they could help us with their cooperation, please forward this message to them as well.

Donors of all types will benefit from our offer: various kinds of teas, tinctures, natural nutrition, health-related consultations, alternative therapies (bioenergy and reiki), crystal programming (health, well-being, happiness, self-development and other needs). Later on, we are going to offer peaceful relaxation and various activities on our estate for you and your children.

Silva and Miha

mailto:[email protected]�


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Conceptual design: Self-sufficiency farm project

Contents Business idea ........................................................................................................................................... 4

Introduction of the institution and of the conceptual design developers .............................................. 6

About the organization............................................................................................................................ 7

Our vision ................................................................................................................................................ 7

Our mission.............................................................................................................................................. 7

Goals ........................................................................................................................................................ 8

Branches .................................................................................................................................................. 8

Products ................................................................................................................................................... 8

SWOT ....................................................................................................................................................... 9

Results and timeline .............................................................................................................................. 12


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Business idea A self-sufficiency estate – farm is a project which brings together people with similar goals, wishes and ways of thinking. It connects people with nature. Through practical education it helps them discover their primary nature which is the way to find the internal and external happiness and well-being. We take care of people's personal, spiritual and physical development and help them develop their talents and potentials.

This project connects a network of people with similar thoughts and feelings. They want peace, happiness, symbiosis with nature, in addition to developing their own talents and potentials. It includes a network of self-sufficient, biological and agritourism farms, educational institutions and other organisations, a web portal and a newspaper. This organism operates in the form of a symbiotic organisation, which means that all members help each other, forming a self-sufficient system with renewable energy sources and symbiosis between human and nature. People learn and develop in natural environment, using as little

technology as possible, in symbiosis with plants, animals and other people. Waste recovery is simultaneous. Products and services from which the system is financed are created. An exchange of goods and services will be introduced; a kind of compensation which is, in difficult times, with a high unemployment rate, a friendly choice for people to provide for themselves and their families.

The idea is for the people to learn from each other and from the nature, without any fear, constraint or stress, and to develop their

own talents and achieve personal progress. They create a happy present and future for themselves, their families and for the others. They learn how to find themselves and their path, they fulfil their basic and higher needs, combining the way of the ancient cultures with contemporary knowledge. They learn to be tolerant to all other living beings and to develop inner peace and harmony.

Current state of the project: we, the co-creators of the project, have studied the basic idea, which has been divided into steps, which are to be followed in order to achieve our vision. The scope of this project is very wide and can therefore not be realized in a short time period and without a substantial financial support. A private institution which is planned to be established in September 2010 will provide a formal basis. At the moment, the members of our team are Miha Lipovec (conceptual leader) and Silva Pozlep (operational leader, design, technical support).


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The team includes other silent members and people sharing our views. They help us with their ideas, knowledge and experience. We would like to invite all of you who find the project interesting, to join our team. The business plan of the project is in preparation.

Image bellow: Permaculture on an estate … successful ecological self-sufficiency farming is

already well-developed and acknowledged in the world. In many places this type of farming is a form of self-employment which people live on until their retirement. In times of crisis, this can help solve the great unemployment problem and the problem of poverty.

The elaboration of our self-sufficiency farm and symbiotic community project is even more innovative in the sense of integration of the local, national and European community into a movement for preservation and sustainable development of not only human potential, happiness and well-being, but also of natural environment, renewable sources of energy and heritage for the posterity. We try to obtain knowledge from the past and to awaken the knowledge that contributed to human and nature's survival so far, testing it in real, everyday life.


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Introduction of the institution and of the conceptual design developers

Miha Lipovec

He has technical education and has a lot of experience and skills in making things from wood, metal and other material. He has made ships, airplanes, a car prototype, and has done things which others were not good at, even if he had to break the rock to make a shaft. However, what he liked to do most was working at the stable and he still enjoys working with animals. He says that one of his best jobs was being the head of the survival-in-nature school. At the moment he is enjoying in herb gathering, farming, beekeeping, studying of ancient cultures and history, making teas and tinctures, and in family planning.

Silva Pozlep

An artist at heart, a graphic designer with a great sense of computer science. She is in charge of training at the Multimedia Academy and the president, conceptual leader, manager and the head implementor at the Media Education Association. She cooperates with various schools, prepares electronic materials and quality standards. Her favourite work includes innovative, difficult and original information projects. She is great in bringing together experts from various fields of interest and in organizing the staff, so that they are happy to co-create complex projects, such as interactive e-material, games, web portals, etc. In the future she sees herself as a person preserving the ancient knowledge, nature and primary needs and to help people in their development. She wishes for a peaceful and creative life with her family in a

natural environment.

We, as partners, want to share our experience and knowledge for the well-being of the future generations and of the Mother Earth.

Take a look at some photos of our activities bellow.

We gather and dry herbs, teas...we prepare tinctures,...clay...we do research on various forms of farming...


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About the organization Private institution for permaculture, preservation and sustainable development of human and nature is under establishment.

Organization: natural hierarchy, 'anthill' organization; an individual finds his/her own place in the society and acts in benefit of oneself and of the entire community.

Current activities:

• Miha and Silva are trying to obtain knowledge in various fields (farming, herb growing, education, survival in nature, tourism)

• We are looking for a large estate for farming, honey production, education, forestry, revival and development of old crafts, workshops, activities, tourism, and to provide a healthy pastime

• We are developing an overall image of the organization

• We are collecting ideas for the web portal

Our vision The project involves a community of people on a large estate which is connected to the local, national and European network, with the people, organizations and institutions that have similar ideas. Their common denominator is symbiosis, self-sufficiency and independence from the other systems. It is going to include ecological farming, along with the research and education centre for symbiosis and for natural and sustainable development of people, including the preservation of natural heritage and the use of renewable energy sources. The activities and the life-long education are going to bring people closer to their inner being and will raise their consciousness to become more natural, humane, ecological, happier and useful for society. They are going to learn of the importance of using the renewable sources of energy and to develop harmony within themselves and with their environment. A self-sufficient ecological farm is a model which we are going to transfer to the national and European level.

Our mission The Institution for Preservation and Sustainable Development of Human and Nature is a movement which provides practical education for people to become more ecologically conscious and to live in symbiosis with themselves, with others and with nature; to become its allies by protecting, preserving and developing the environment. Without any stress, people learn (through practice) how to improve their way of life, they learn about the sustainable self-development of an individual and of the organizations and society. People shall revive the basic, ancient way of life – symbiosis between themselves and the nature, by searching for the knowledge and needs in their roots. They are going to learn about the natural, closed circuit; if a tree is cut down for the human needs, it has to be replaced. They are going to learn about the exploitation of the renewable sources of energy.


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Goals • Ecological farming and permaculture

• Preservation and sustainable development of natural heritage

• Preservation of national heritage

• Preservation and sustainable development of countryside architecture

• Preservation of the natural image of the countryside

• Exploitation of the renewable energy sources

• Preservation and sustainable development of handicraft (blacksmith's craft, carpentry, construction of natural housing, etc.)

• Research of nature and people

• Natural education process

• Searching for human talents and skills and placing them in the society

• Establishment and sustainable development of natural community

• Self-sufficiency and independence (renewable energy sources, water, food, waste-free, preventive medicine, identification and balance of one's needs, elimination of consumerism and lavishness, survival in nature)

• Physical work, exercise without excessive effort and pain

• Healthy spirit and mind of people and animals

• Research activities

• Environmentally friendly beekeeping

• Development of natural biotopes

• Equitable natural and material circuit (profitable parts of the project finance the non-profitable parts, fair payment for work)

• Development of natural tourism

• Various workshops and activities

• Cultural activities and healthy pastime

Slogan: There is enough of everything for everyone.

Branches Main: Agricultural activity Sub-branch: Education Secondary activities: Production and processing of medicinal plants, pharmacy, forestry, timber industry, tourism, etc.

Products A conscious human being who can survive in civilization and in nature with minimal resources. A self-confident human being who does not depend on the others. A human being who can communicate the knowledge to posterity. An ecologically conscious human being who is constantly developing, is physically and mentally healthy, and has found true love and happiness.


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Services:

• Adult education

• Certified education programmes

• Ecological tourism, working and educational vacation

• School in nature, survival in nature

• Research activities

• Camps, workshops, lectures, supplementary activities, voluntary work, rehabilitation activities

• Exchange of goods

• NVQ Master in apiculture

• NVQ Herbalist

Products:

• Healthy drinking water,

• Ecological food,

• Natural medicinal plants (teas, tinctures, ointments),

• Wood and wood products,

• Honey and wax products,

• Soil and clay products,

• Metal products,

• Natural resource products

• Textile materials

• Renewable energy sources

SWOT Opportunities

The trends of moving from the city to the country and returning to the ecological, natural way of life in symbiosis with nature, healthy nutrition and exercise are increasing. People are becoming more and more aware of these things and are more ecologically conscious. They do care what they eat and drink and what kind of air they breathe. The sale of eco products is increasing as well. These trends are mostly present in Western Europe, which is also our target area to sell eco products, along with the tourist and educational services. Europeans are more ecology conscious, they buy high-quality food and water, products and services, such as active vacation at an educational agritourism farm, survival in nature, or healthy pastime.

Our target groups also include people from the Eastern Europe, Balkans and other south-eastern countries. We believe that we can connect and educate, and to preserve the Slavic cultural tradition together with people who have the same roots. We are going to try to encourage them towards their personal development and to preserve their cultural and natural heritage.


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We are going to try to bring together people from different cultures, so that they can learn about and accept each other's differences. We are going to emphasize the unique value and equality of each individual, regardless of the sex, race, culture, language, religion, or any other differences.

We are going to develop a model of a farm for preservation and sustainable development of human and nature, which is going to be connected with other product and service providers in the local surroundings. Thus we are going to create a network of the entire range of products and services, we are going to cooperate with the local ecological and agritourism farms and other organizations which we are going to need to provide an integrated offer. We are going to invite national institutions from the entire country to join our network – public schools, Agricultural Research Institute, health care, pharmacy, etc. We are going to transfer the model of our self-sufficiency farm to other farms in Slovenia that have the same potential, because we believe that our country has great potentials in this field, opportunities for sustainable development, providing more job openings, contributing to the national economy, preserving clean and healthy environment and heritage for the posterity. In the third phase of the project we are going to connect with European and other foreign countries, where we want to introduce our model.

We believe that this model is interesting for the investors.

Advantages

An advantage of this project is that people involved in it will benefit in terms of their personal growth and self-confidence, as well as discover and develop their own talents and abilities. People are going to enter the project on their own initiative - those who want to live and work in a symbiotic self-sufficient community. A person in this type of community contributes to peace, symbiosis, learning, production and preparation of food, water, clothes, utensils, accommodation, and shelter. People are surrounded by nature without any special technology, which can be more of a burden then help and can have negative impact on their development and health. We are going to use technology, so that people can be competitive on the labour market but they are not going to develop addictions to computer games, television and virtual communities, wasting their lives away in an unreal world. A simple and quiet life enables them to find their own potentials and talents. They learn from their own experience, at their own time, whenever it is suitable for them. They learn to develop a healthy social life and smart entertainment and fun, without any artificial substances and stimulants. When people grow as individuals and develop sustainably, it is easier for them to become a part of the community, and they can contribute to its sustainable growth. A person will learn how to follow his/her own biorhythm and to properly satisfy his/her own natural needs, to an adequate extent, thus reducing the greed of civilization and lavishness. Peace and community will awaken creativity, deriving from one’s own will, without any restrictions, frustrations, humiliations, envy and similar negativities. This is how the process of personal and spiritual growth begins and consequently leads to mental and physical health.

Disadvantages

The main disadvantage is that we still don’t have the estate and the initial capital. Our priority is to find an estate in the northern part of the coastal region (Primorska) but we don’t exclude the


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possibility of other regions. We still have to complete the plan on how to convince people of the benefits of this project and of this type of activities, products and services.

Risks and hazards

Natural disasters. Unfavourable legislation or change of legislation. Plant and animal diseases. Air and water pollution. Farmers who use pesticides and insecticides. Negative criticism from the competition. Dirty and cheap technology and lack of consciousness when using it. Globalisation.


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Results and timeline

The project was initiated in the spring of 2010. We developed the concept and were experimenting with various types of ecological farming (standard, permaculture, biological dynamic farming, etc.), gathering and processing herbs, teas, preparing tinctures, honey, clay and waste recycling. An example of the latter are egg shells which can be used to improve the quality of soil, as fertilizer, adding calcium to the soil, to wash dishes without detergents, etc.

Outline of operations and networking of a self-sufficient farm: green indicates cooperation with the local (blue), national (orange) and European (purple) community.

Ecological, biological

self-sufficient estate

Agriculture, tourism, education

Exercise centre, model development

Agritourist farm

Accommodatio

Agritourist farm

Welness

Trade

Supplementary products

Biological farm

Cheese production

Biological farm

Oil processing

Local school

Education

Verified schooling National

institutions, healthcare, etc.

NGOs Supplementary

activities

Farms from other regions

Knowledge, services,

Farms from other regions Transfer of our model to other

estates

Organizations

Exchange of knowledge,

services products Organizations Exchange of knowledge,

services,products

NGOs Supplementary

activities

Farms from other countries

Knowledge, services,

Farms from other countries

Transfer of our model to other estates in EU

EU governmental

institutions


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The results we are expecting depend on the time and the funds, whereas we do not lack the enthusiasm and eagerness for work. See the timeline of the expected results and effects bellow:

Year / month Activities (Expected) results February 2010 ♣ Concept development for the

self-sufficient estate

April 2010 ♣ Gathering and drying of wild herbs and medicinal plants

♣ The idea was starting to form

May 2010 ♣ Making tinctures ♣ Experimental biological

farming – various types (moor soil)

♣ Conclusions on various types of farming and setting the expected results

August 2010 Future activities

♣ Collecting and processing herbs

♣ Farming ♣ Development of the self-

sufficient estate concept ♣ Education ♣ Looking for the estate

♣ 82 kinds of teas, 30 different tinctures ♣ 1 ointment (failure, unfortunately) ♣ Working on overall graphic design ♣ Obtaining the farmer status, buying

professional literature, attending workshops (herbs, food from nature, farming)

September 2010 ♣ Establishing the institution ♣ Looking for the estate ♣ Searching for investors,

donors, etc. ♣ Public invitation for the co-

creators to join the project ♣ Designing a web site

♣ Establishment of the institution ♣ Obtaining funds, so that the institution

can begin its operation ♣ Obtaining funds for an estate larger than

20 ha ♣ Moving the farming and other activities

to the new location ♣ Implementation of the first workshops

(how to stay healthy with proper nutrition and medicinal plants)

October – December 2010

♣ Moving the activities to the new location – estate

♣ Searching for project development funds with invitations to tenders

♣ Hiring a marketing manager

♣ Implementation of workshops ♣ Farming ♣ Research of permaculture ♣ Obtained funds ♣ Launching the web site

2011 ♣ (sustainable development of people and environment)

♣ Farming development ♣ Development of educational

activities ♣ Development of symbiotic

community ♣ Investing in the estate ♣ Development of

infrastructure and of renewable sources of energy

♣ Working with animals ♣ Continuous updating of the

web site

♣ Results and experience from various types of farming from 2010 will be considered

♣ Ecological farming workshops ♣ School-of-survival workshops ♣ First groups of tourists ♣ Summer camps and workshops for

children ♣ First employees at the estate ♣ First students’ practice at the estate ♣ Fist animals at the estate ♣ Connecting with the ecological and

agritourism farms to exchange goods and services

♣ Obtaining European funds ♣ Spring seeds and seedlings festival;

exchanging knowledge and experience ♣ Autumn crops festival; exchanging

knowledge and experience 2012 - 2015 ♣ Sustainable development of

the landscape, architecture, ♣ preservation and development of natural

surroundings, plants and animals


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culture of environment ♣ College education ♣ Revival and development of

domestic crafts and old professions

♣ Cooperation of the local community

♣ Establishing cooperation on the national level

♣ Establishing cooperation on the EU level

♣ Implementing our model of the self-sufficient estate at the other farms in all regions of Slovenia

♣ Connecting and spreading information on the World Web

♣ Colleges: Wood technology, blacksmith’s craft, wellness

♣ Workshops: domestic crafts - wood, clay, food, herbs

♣ NVQ Master in apiculture and NVQ herbalist

♣ Buildings made from natural materials, conforming to the surroundings

♣ Life in symbiosis in a community of 15 people – mentors – with nature, animals and people

♣ Close cooperation with the local community by exchanging goods and services, new job openings at the estate

♣ The estate becomes fully biological, ecological and self-sufficient

♣ Instantaneous waste recovery ♣ Exploitation of renewable energy sources ♣ Traditional festivals and meetings

2016 - 2030 ♣ All of the above activities ♣ Implementing our model of

the self-sufficient estate in the EU area

♣ The estate, together with the local estates, employs most of the local community

♣ Revival of old professions and forgotten crafts, manual dexterity and skills are a natural part of the society

2031 → ♣ All of the above activities ♣ New guidelines for the estate will be provided by the young (new innovative ideas)

Contact

Miha Lipovec Silva Pozlep Phone: +386 41 777 599 Phone: +386 41 433 737 Skype: silva.pozlep e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: silva.pozlep @gmail.com

Information for donors, sponsors, etc.

Funds for establishment of the institution are collected via non-profit organization Media Education Association www.medialearn.org

♣ donors can use our current services, get some of our products and can be published at our future web site

♣ sponsors can decide for an add or introduction on the web site www.medialearn.org

♣ Co-workers and co-creators are going to exchange knowledge, experience, services and products (fields: computer training, graphic design, advertising, etc.)

mailto:[email protected]�

http://www.medialearn.org/�

http://www.medialearn.org/�


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Business account at NLB d.d. Ljubljana: 02053-0255412730 – not VAT taxable Indicate: for the self-sufficient estate

Activity code: 94.999. Registered at the Administrative unit in Ljubljana under the number 3800. ID no.: 2103796 Tax number: 95316159.

We would like to sincerely thank all of you who are already helping us with our project for establishment of a self-sufficient estate of the future.

Documents

Self-sufficiency farm